Community people: Pro TeamTHE COURIER / Submitted The Pro Team and Rhonda McBride joined together to support CASA of the 5th Judicial District with a $500 donation in honor of Child Abuse Awareness Month. Pictured is CASA Board Treasurer McBride and the Pro Team owners Wes Freeman and Brian Boyer, along with office manager Ryan Morris and sales associates John Young and Chad Richardson.

Reprinted from a 1976 edition of the Courier-DemocratReprinted from a 1976 edition of the Courier-Democrat. ASSEMBLING resource material to be used in observance of Arbor Day in Pope County are officers of the Pope County Conservation District junior board, from left: Deliah Athey, Hector, treasurer; Paula Cumbia, Dover, secretary, and Allen Powers, Atkins, chairman. The material will be given to third grade teachers over the county for use in their Arbor Day projects.

Survival Flight Inc. to land in RussellvilleSurvival Flight Inc., an emergency medical helicopter transportation company based in Mesa, Arizona, is going to call Saint Mary's Regional Medical Center home later this month. The air ambulance service will provide a crew 24 hours a day, seven days a week at the hospital, as well as one Bell 407 helicopter. The company is dedicated to air medical transportation that is focused on the quality of care to patients and their safety with aviation...

Two local teens share unique hobbyClick, click, click. The sound of Rubik's Cubes being solved radiated in the background of a conversation between Jeremy Collins and Tyler Tracy. The two Russellville High School seniors have become close friends thanks to their fascination with solving the Rubik's Cube in a short amount of time -- also called speed cubing. Collins first became interested in cubing in 2013 when he saw a math video with random facts about the Rubik's Cube. "Aft...

Authorities to ramp up efforts this weekendLITTLE ROCK -- Every year Americans hit the road headed for destinations to celebrate the Fourth of July at picnics, parties, parades and many other events. Unfortunately the celebrating includes drinking alcohol followed by drunk driving on streets and highways during this most heavily traveled holiday period. Nationwide there were 397 people killed in motor vehicle crashes in 2014 over the Fourth of July holiday period that covered five days...

Community people: Robert HefleyTHE COURIER / Submitted Robert Hefley of Russellville recently participated as part of the men's panel "Superstar" at Plexus worldwide's national convention at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas. He discussed the success of growing his home business and shared tips and personal experiences with the audience.

Russellville Main Street hosts think tank — discovers much to do downtownSeveral residents of the community shared their thoughts and ideas on how to improve the downtown district at a think tank lunch hosted by Main Street Russellville on June 22 at the train depot. Main Street Russellville executive director Betsy McGuire discussed the overall purpose and vision of Main Street Russellville and noted four businesses will open in the downtown district near the first of July into August. She discussed the Depot Park...

Supporting local historyTHE COURIER / Joshua Mashon Supporting local history Community representatives for Reed Cemetery (across from Sequoyah Elementary School in Russellville) gathered for a check presentation Monday morning with Russellville Mayor Randy Horton, Mike Wilkins, alderman Bill Eaton and West Central Arkansas Planning & Development District (WCAPDD) executive director Dwayne Pratt. The $5,000, which are general improvement funds for community and econom...

River Valley Rewind (June 29, 2016)Reprinted from a 1976 edition of The Courier-Democrat. KINDLES FIRE — Ron Esserman of Dover, scoutmaster for Troop 343, shows new scouts how to start a fire. Esesrman’s troop is part of the Mount Magazine District. It meets weekly on his property three miles east of Dover. From left are Buel Hogins, Danny Winters, Esserman, Alvin Epperson, Stephen Reynolds, Jeff Apple, Kevin Miller and Kevin Morgan. All are Dover residents.

Community people: Arkansas Blood InstituteTHE COURIER / Submitted Brock and Samantha Burnham, blood donors at the Arkansas Blood Institute's (ABI) Danville Guns N Hoses blood drive, is pictured with their cheerleaders and Courtney Roe. Roe is a double red cell donor who participated with 21 other donors in supporting all three area hospitals and community patients with their donations. Each donor received a free Magic Springs ticket and a special T-shirt at the annual event.

Little Caesars serves less fortunateThe Little Caesars Love Kitchen (LCLK) provided fresh pizza meals for approximately 225 people in need on Monday at Main Street Mission. "The Love Kitchen was created to provide quality meals for people who need them," said Little Caesars franchisee Cathryn Messer. "As a member of the area business community, it's important for us to support people when they need it and help make the community stronger. We're excited to support this program wi...

Reimbursements 'as close as we can get'ATKINS -- A board member of the former Southwest Atkins Water Users Association said the reimbursement of approximately $220,000 to former water customers is just about all taken care of. Board member Doyle Cook said the board had planned to disburse what they thought was the correct amount: people who had been customers for two years as of 2013 were due $510; water customers for 1-2 years were due $255, and customers who were on the system fo...

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BY SEAN INGRAM
sean@couriernews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Life is hard on Young Gravelly RoadDANVILLE -- Growing up you've probably asked several times, what do you want to be when you get older? For Jerry Jones, he realized exactly what that was at a young age. "I was just five years old and I walked down in the pasture with my grandpa to check his milk cow. She had just given birth to a baby heifer, which was half Hereford. He gave me the calf, which I had for 26 years, every single year of which, she gave birth to another calf," he...

Community people: Miss Arkansas Tech University 2016THE COURIER / Submitted Pictured are Miss Arkansas Tech University 2016, Carly Copeland, with Rotary Wesley White and William Smith. Copeland shared her pageant experience, talked about her platform being mentoring and performed her talent number, "Ain't No Sunshine."